Why Buy An Aluminum Dock Plate?

A dock plate is a metal ramp used to close up space between a truck or van and a loading dock. Choose from plates made of steel or an aluminum dock plate. Both are designed to close up a gap and accommodate for truck height to loading dock differences. They help provide stable footing for loading and unloading from truck or van to dock or warehouse floor. They are designed as a ramp that has painted side strips for safety and raised tread designs on the flooring where workers walk back and forth. These ridges create traction for more stable footing.

Bridging the gap allows for safer and more efficient loading and unloading of deliveries. The shortest distance between two points is always a straight line. This principle applies to loading and unloading deliveries as well. Dock plates provide a solid ramp that connects the delivery to the warehouse, making it easier to bring the loads back and forth for better productivity and safety. The light weight plates work best with handcart or foot traffic loads that are less likely to roll off of the sides or over extend weight limits.

They can be easily moved or mounted to a loading dock. Lightweight aluminum dock plates can be easily moved for convenient loading location by picking them up with built-in hand hand hold grips. They can also be attached to a loading dock with steel mounts to provide a fixed plate.

What makes aluminum superior to plates made from steel? Several factors to consider when comparing aluminum plates with those made of steel are: weight, strength, maintenance and cost. Aluminum costs less than steel. It is easier to maintain and provides sufficient strength to handle weight requirements of many loading docks. Structures can be manufactured with the same or greater strength and still be lighter than its steel dockplate counterpart. These factors make aluminum an efficient choice in both its structural soundness and budget friendliness.

Are there different weight capacities when it comes to dock plates? The capacity that aluminum can handle may seem astounding. The capacity weight refers to the maximum weight that these can safely hold as it is evenly distributed across the deck. They have a capacity that ranges from light weight to heavy duty. Some heavy duty aluminum dock plates have a capacity weight of more than 12,000 lbs., with a more typical range being between 1,000 to 12,000 lbs. maximum. They also come in a variety of lengths and height adjustments to fit specific loading dock needs.

There is a dock plate that will meet your specific needs. There is a choice that is right for most warehouse loading dock needs. It is important to factor in your capacity weight workload when considering which one is right for your warehouse. Aluminum dock plates work well with pallet trucks and other non-powered dock loading equipment. These will serve the needs of warehouses well when cost and ease of use, portability and upkeep are factors and will safely stand up to their capacity weight loads and weather.